Nintendo is working on a new version of its portable console, the Switch 2, according to a report from Nikkei that cites the outlet’s sources. The revision is being developed in response to regulatory changes in the European Union and aims to alter the hardware to meet those requirements.
The updated model is intended to satisfy new EU rules that give consumers greater ability to repair their devices or replace individual components. To comply, the Switch 2 variant will include a removable battery that users can buy separately and install themselves if the original pack fails. Nintendo plans to sell this version first in the European Union, while also considering offering similarly configured units in the United States and Japan at a later stage.
The move comes amid broader regulatory pressure on electronics manufacturers to improve repairability and parts availability. Separately, Nintendo has recently taken legal action against the United States government, filing a lawsuit over customs duties that the company considers unlawful — a dispute distinct from the EU-driven hardware changes but indicative of the legal and commercial pressures the company is navigating.